Water-proof garment



(No Model.)

P. G. TOWN.

WATER PROOF GARMENT.

Patente d June 29, 1886.

Inventor: fiwuwia 66.1'0 n n.

' messes:

N. PETERS Phokn-Lilhognplmn Washington D. c.

"nrnn'r FFICEQ FRANCIS G. TOYVN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

WATER-PROOF GARMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 344,606, dated June 29, 1886.

Application filed February 27, 1886. Serial No. 193,449.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fniincrs G. TOWN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Phil adelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Water-Proof Garments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of certain improvements in sleeveless garments-such as are made of rubber-coated, oiled, or other waterproof fabrics, and have armholes in the front, the object of myiuvention being to permit the garment to yield across the breast when this portion is subjected to strain, the tearing of the fabric or the pulling off of the buttons being prevented.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of part of a rubber over-garment such as that commonly worn by ladies. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing the inside of the breast portion of the garment. Fig. 3 is a sectional perspective view on a still larger scale. Figs. 4c and 5 are detached views, and Fig. 6 is a View showing a modification.

In rubber or other water proof over-garments-such,for instance, as the cloak A shown in Fig. 1sleeves are usually dispensed with and openings a formed in the front portion of the garinent,to permit the use of the hands and arms, these openings having guards or shields h. These armholes, however, confine the arms at or about the elbow, and prevent anything like a free use of the arms, any attempt of the wearer to reach upward or sidewise generally resulting either in tearing the fabric at the top or bottom of the armhole, or else in tearing out the button-holes or the fabric to which the buttons are sewed, for it should be understood that in order to reduce the weight of garments of this class the fabrics of which they are made are generally of thelightest and flimsiest character. In order, therefore, to permit a free movement of the arms of the wearer without unduly or injuriously straining the fabric of which the garment is composed, I gather the front portion of the garment between the edges of the same and the armholes a, the gathers being retained by elastic strips (1, preferably located on the inside of the garment, and connected at (No model.)

their opposite ends, 0, to the fabric on each side of the gathered portions of the same. The number and arrangement of these elastic strips may be varied without departing from the essential feature of my invention; but I prefer to place them in line with each button and with the upper and lower ends of the armhole, as shown in Fig. 2, and I prefer to provide the strips with guards f of any suitable fabric, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Instead of gathering the fabric of the garment itself, openings may be formed in the garment for the insertion of gathered pieces, provided with elastic strips, as shown in Fig. 6, for instance. An additional advantage of this feature of my invention is, that it enables the garment to cover a range of sizes, and considerably reduces the variety in sizes demanded by the present practice of making a special garment for each size of bust,

In order to prevent the tearing of the garment at the top and bottom of the shields h,in the eventof any undue strain on these shields, I either form gathers in the shield at top and bottom, as shown in Fig. 4, and retain them by rubber bands (Z, or I discontinue the stitching at the top and bottom of the shield and connect the outer corners of said shield to the body of the garmentby means of elastic bands (1, as shown in Fig. 5, either plan permitting the yielding of the shield without risk of tearing the garment when said shield is sub jected to undue strain.

The elastic connections may be employed at the top of the shield only, if desired; but I prefer to employ them both at top and bottom.

I claim as my invtntion 1. A sleeveless water-proof cloak or like over-garment having front armholes and elastic gathered portions between the armholes and the front edges, all substantially as specified.

2. A sleeveless waterproof cloak or like over garment having front armholes and gathers between the armholes and the front edges, said gathers being retained by elastic strips connected to the garment at the opposite ends, all substantially as specified.

3. A Water-proof cloak or like over-gar- In testimonywhereof I-havesigned mynamc Inent having armhole-shieldshand elastic contothis specification in the presence of two 10 nections between the same and the body of subscribing Witnesses. the garment, all substantially as specified.

T 4. A Water-proof cloak 01- like over-gar- FRALGIS TOWN ment having an armhole-shield, h, a portion Witnesses:

of which is gathered and retained by an elas- WILLIAM D. GONNER,

tic strip, all substantially as specified. HARRY SMITH. 

